Brooks Nader and Livvy Dunne may have slipped into “Baywatch”’s iconic red swimsuits, but not everyone is convinced the reboot will live up to the original. The duo set social media buzzing over the weekend after appearing in a first-look teaser for the highly anticipated “Baywatch” reboot, though the reaction quickly turned divided as fans compared the newcomers to franchise legends like Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff.
Brooks Nader And Livvy Dunne Heat Up ‘Baywatch’ Reboot Teaser
Nader and Dunne officially stepped into the “Baywatch” universe on Saturday when a brief teaser clip was shared by lead actor Stephen Amell on Instagram. The seconds-long video showed Nader strutting onto a nighttime dock wearing one of the franchise’s signature apple-red swimsuits underneath a matching jacket, her long blonde hair cascading around her shoulders.
Dunne, meanwhile, sported platinum blonde locks as she gazed into the distance from the beach in a cinematic shot clearly inspired by the original series’ glamorous aesthetic.
Stephen Amell Leads A New Generation Of Lifeguards
The teaser also featured dramatic beach footage, including a silhouetted figure grabbing rescue gear from a lifeguard tower and a surfer carving through a crashing wave before Amell appeared in slow motion, showing off his toned physique in bright red swim trunks. “I dream in slow motion,” the actor captioned the clip.
Amell is set to lead the reboot as Hobie Buchannon, the son of David Hasselhoff’s iconic Mitch Buchannon, who now serves as a Baywatch captain himself. Actress Jessica Belkin also briefly appeared in character as Charlie Vale, Hobie’s long-lost daughter.
The reboot is expected to premiere in January 2027 with a 12-episode run.
Fans Compare Brooks Nader And Livvy Dunne To Pamela Anderson
Despite the flashy visuals, many longtime fans weren’t sold, and several quickly compared Nader and Dunne to Pamela Anderson, whose portrayal of C.J. Parker became one of the most recognizable images in TV history. “They both look good in filtered IG pictures but neither have the x factor that Pammy had,” one viewer wrote.
Another person didn’t mince words, predicting, “This show will epically flop.” “They are stiff and don’t know how to pose,” another critic commented, while someone else blasted the reboot as a “whitewashed show,” adding, “They could have done so much better.”
Fans Aren’t Sure The Reboot Can Capture The Original Magic
Others questioned whether the revival can ever recreate the original magic. “Never as good as the first time,” one viewer wrote, while another predicted the reboot is “guaranteed to be mind-numbingly awful.”
Still, some fans remained hopeful, with one person writing that they hoped Hasselhoff and Anderson would eventually make guest appearances.
The Original ‘Baywatch’ Became A Global Phenomenon
The original “Baywatch,” which aired from 1989 to 2001, followed a team of lifeguards patrolling the beaches of Los Angeles and became a pop culture sensation despite often receiving negative reviews from critics.
David Hasselhoff led the series as Mitch Buchannon, while Pamela Anderson skyrocketed to fame as lifeguard C.J. Parker in the show’s unforgettable red swimsuit. At its peak, “Baywatch” became the most-watched television show in the world, cementing itself as a beachside drama unlike anything else on television.
Now, with Brooks Nader and Livvy Dunne helping usher in a new era, fans appear split on whether lightning can strike twice, or if Pamela Anderson’s legacy simply looms too large to replace.